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Thursday, April 11, 2013

A to Z April Challenge: J is for Jerusha

This is Day 10 of the A to Z April Challenge. My theme is women with unusual names although
I must cheat now and then or I’ll have a name and no story.

is for Jerusha L. Davis, my
great-grandaunt and sister to my
great-grandfather. She was the fourth of
thirteen children born to Mitchell and Martha Ann Willson Davis. With some of the children sporting names
like Zedekiah, Amaziah, Zibiah Saloma, and Zephaniah, I wonder if my
great-great grandparents were especially religious. Jerusha is an Old Testament name of Hebrew
origin meaning “inheritance” or “legacy.”
In the Bible, Jerusha was wife of Uzziah and mother of King Jotham of
Judah.

Jerusha Davis, however, did not live long enough to
become wife or mother to anyone. She was
born March 5, 1853. Ten years later she
was the first of three children to die in 1863:
Jerusha (age 10) on June 28, Zedekiah (age 15) on July 11, and Ann (age
13) on July 15. Likely they were victims
of typhoid fever.It is not right for parents to outlive their children. I cannot fathom the heartache of burying three within weeks of each other.

Let's hope that Mitchell and Martha were 'especially religious' in order to cope with the loss of three children. There has been much written about the Typhoid Fever of 1863. My great grandfather's adult twin brothers died within minutes of each other...just as they had been born.

An unusual name, Jerusha...I've not heard it before. I hope Zibia Saloma was a girl...you'll be fixed for 'Z'.

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About Me

My name is Wendy. About twenty years ago, I helped my mother research the Jolletts. Since retiring from teaching, I have expanded my research which I share here. When I’m not looking for my own family, I index for FamilySearch and the Greene County Historical Society.
Welcome to Jollett Etc. Please leave a comment to let me know you were here. If you have more information or believe we are related, EMAIL ME at wendymath at cox dot net